Huge BBC primetime show 'facing the axe' as viewers 'switch off'

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Station bosses are reportedly holding
Station bosses are reportedly holding 'crisis talks' about what to do

A HUGE BBC primetime show is reportedly facing the axe as viewers 'switch off' after just two episodes.

The broadcaster brought back legendary reality show Survivor after 20 years off air.

A huge BBC primetime show is facing the axe as viewers 'switch off' after just two episodes eiqrridrdiqruprw
A huge BBC primetime show is facing the axe as viewers 'switch off' after just two episodesCredit: BBC
Beeb bosses are reportedly holding crisis talks as the reboot of Survivor launched to low ratings
Beeb bosses are reportedly holding crisis talks as the reboot of Survivor launched to low ratingsCredit: BBC

Now hosted by Joel Dommett, the rebooted series launched directly after Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday.

Survivor sees 18 castaways head to the Dominican Republic for the "ultimate physical and psychological game".

The castaways were marooned in a tropical location before being divided into two tribes and forced to compete against one another for rewards or immunity from being voted off.

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However, despite Strictly pulling in a massive eight million viewers, a lot tuned out when Survivor started.

The Beeb purposely crashed straight into the launch to stop as many viewers as possible from switching over.

But just 2.6million watched as the contestants began the gruelling challenges.

The second episode, which aired in David Attenborough’s Planet Earth III slot, pulled in 2.3million fans.

It's reportedly led bosses at the BBC to hold crisis talks on what to do with the remaining 14 episodes of the series.

A source told MailOnline: "It’s crazy. BBC One had a winning Saturday and Sunday night schedule that would have seen it safely through to Christmas – and the panicking bosses just ripped it up to make room for a show that cost so much of licence payers’ money that they could not afford for it to flop.

"It is terrible news for the BBC, it is an absolute disaster. It cost a fortune and it is just not appealing to the masses – conversations are now taking place as to what can be done to turn things around, quickly."

However, overnight stats don't show the full picture as consolidated viewing figures, which are released weekly, will result in ratings for Survivor increasing.

An insider told The Sun: “In a world of on demand viewing, programmes are not judged on overnight performance alone and iPlayer figures are still to come.”

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Survivor viewers switched off the show and claimed it was 'terrible' on social media.

Survivor sees 18 castaways head to the Dominican Republic for the "ultimate physical and psychological game"
Survivor sees 18 castaways head to the Dominican Republic for the "ultimate physical and psychological game"Credit: BBC

Alex Doyle

BBC ONE, BBC

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